# 2016–17 Bristol Rovers F.C. season

The 2016–17 season was the 134th season in Bristol Rovers' history and their 89th in the English Football League. Following back-to-back promotions in 2014–15 and 2015–16, Rovers competed in the third tier of English football, League One. What was a steady season, Rovers played the likes of Coventry and Chelsea (in the EFL Cup) for the first time in decades. After a brief playoff push towards the end of the season, Rovers finished in a respectable 10th place with 66 points, their highest finish in the football league since the 1999–2000 season.

## Season events
### Pre-season

Rovers manager Darrell Clarke was quick to make good on his promise to offer all out-of-contract senior players new contracts if the club was promoted, confirming that, with the exception of Rory Fallon, new deals were "in the post" just five days after the previous season had concluded. In addition to Lee Brown and Tom Lockyer, whose deals were signed before the season had ended, goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall and midfielder Jay Malpas were the first to sign a new deals on 17 May. Toward the end of May, Clarke himself had agreed a new three-year contract, making him the highest paid manager in the club's history. This came after the club received a formal approach from Championship side Leeds United which Rovers rejected.
June saw defender Daniel Leadbitter and winger Billy Bodin sign new two-year contracts at Rovers. Goalkeeper Will Puddy, defenders James Clarke and Mark McChrystal, midfielders Lee Mansell Cristian Montaño, Jake Gosling, Ollie Clarke and Chris Lines and forward Ellis Harrison also agreed a new deals of undisclosed duration. Tom Parkes meanwhile rejected the offer of a new deal and instead joined League Two side Leyton Orient. On 16 June, defender Peter Hartley became the club's first signing of the season on a free transfer from Plymouth Argyle followed a day later by the signing of winger Byron Moore from Port Vale.
Peterborough United forward Luke James became July's first signing, on a season long loan. Rovers' top goalscorer of the previous two seasons, Matty Taylor, signed a new contract in July, ending speculation linking him with a move away.

## First team

    As of game played on 31 August 2016
| No. | Name | Position | Place of Birth | Date of Birth | Club caps | Club goals | Int. caps | Int. goals | Previous club | Notes |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||||
| 1 | Steve Mildenhall | GK | Swindon | 13 May 1979 | 125 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Millwall | |
| 25 | Will Puddy | GK | Warminster | 4 October 1987 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Salisbury City | |
| 33 | Kelle Roos | GK | Rijkevoort | 31 May 1992 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | On loan from Derby County | |
| Defenders ||||||||||||
| 2 | Daniel Leadbitter | RB | Newcastle upon Tyne | 7 October 1990 | 58 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Hereford United | |
| 3 | Lee Brown | LB | London | 10 August 1990 | 213 | 20 | 0 | 0 | Queens Park Rangers | |
| 4 | Tom Lockyer | CB/RB | Cardiff | 3 December 1994 | 134 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Youth team graduate | Vice Captain |
| 5 | Mark McChrystal | CB | Derry | 26 June 1984 | 111 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Tranmere Rovers | Club captain |
| 6 | Peter Hartley | CB | Hartlepool | 3 April 1988 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Plymouth Argyle | |
| 15 | James Clarke | RB/CB | Aylesbury | 17 November 1989 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Woking | |
| 19 | Danny Greenslade | LB | Belper | 23 September 1996 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Youth team graduate | |
| 26 | Tyler Lyttle | RB | Nottingham | 12 November 1996 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Youth team graduate | |
| 31 | Connor Roberts | RB | Neath | 23 September 1995 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | on loan from Swansea City | |
| 32 | Alfie Kilgour | CB | Bath | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Youth team graduate | |
| 36 | Jake Clarke-Salter | CB | Carshalton | 22 September 1997 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | On loan from Chelsea | |
| Midfielders ||||||||||||
| 7 | Lee Mansell | CM | Gloucester | 23 September 1982 | 72 | 7 | 0 | 0 | Torquay United | |
| 8 | Ollie Clarke | CM | Portishead | 29 June 1992 | 101 | 8 | 0 | 0 | Youth team graduate | |
| 11 | Jake Gosling | RM/LM | Oxford | 11 August 1993 | 41 | 3 | 11 | 2 | Exeter City | |
| 14 | Chris Lines | CM | Bristol | 30 November 1985 | 211 | 21 | 0 | 0 | Port Vale | |
| 16 | Liam Lawrence | RM/LM | Retford | 14 December 1981 | 12 | 1 | 15 | 2 | Shrewsbury Town | |
| 18 | Dominic Thomas | CM | London | 23 November 1995 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Youth team graduate | |
| 21 | Cristian Montaño | RM/LM | Cali | 11 December 1991 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 0 | América de Cali | |
| 22 | Byron Moore | LM/CF | Stoke-on-Trent | 24 August 1988 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Port Vale | |
| 23 | Billy Bodin | LM/CF | Swindon | 24 March 1992 | 40 | 13 | 0 | 0 | Northampton Town | |
| 24 | Stuart Sinclair | CM | Houghton Conquest | 9 November 1987 | 58 | 4 | 0 | 0 | Salisbury City | |
| 27 | Ryan Broom | RM | Newport | 4 September 1996 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Youth team graduate | |
| 28 | Jay Malpas | CM | Bristol | 25 May 1997 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Youth team graduate | |
| 34 | Hiram Boateng | CM | London | 8 January 1996 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | On loan from Crystal Palace | |
| 35 | Charlie Colkett | CM | Newham | 22 September 1997 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | On loan from Chelsea | |
| Forwards ||||||||||||
| 9 | Ellis Harrison | CF/LM | Newport | 29 January 1994 | 106 | 24 | 0 | 0 | Youth team graduate | |
| 10 | Matty Taylor | CF | Oxford | 30 March 1990 | 93 | 47 | 0 | 0 | Forest Green Rovers | |
| 17 | Jermaine Easter | CF | Cardiff | 15 January 1982 | 48 | 9 | 12 | 0 | Millwall | |
| 20 | Jamie Lucas | CF | Pontypridd | 6 December 1995 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Youth team graduate | |
| 29 | Luke James | CF | Amble | 4 November 1994 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | On loan from Peterborough United | |
| 30 | Rory Gaffney | CF | Tuam | 23 October 1989 | 26 | 8 | 0 | 0 | Cambridge United | |

### Transfers
#### In

| Date | Position | Player | Transferred from | Fee |
| 1 July 2016 | CB | Peter Hartley | Plymouth Argyle | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2016 | LM | Byron Moore | Port Vale | Free transfer |
| 13 January 2017 | CB | Joe Partington | Eastleigh | Undisclosed |
| 26 January 2017 | CB | Jonny Burn | Middlesbrough | Undisclosed |
| 2 February 2017 | LB | Bob Harris | Sheffield United | Free transfer |

#### Loans in

| Date | Position | Player | Loaned from | End date |
| 6 July 2016 | CF | Luke James | Peterborough United | End of Season |
| 24 August 2016 | GK | Kelle Roos | Derby County | 10 January 2017 |
| 25 August 2016 | DF | Connor Roberts | Swansea City | 2 January 2017 |
| 31 August 2016 | CM | Hiram Boateng | Crystal Palace | 2 January 2017 |
| 31 August 2016 | CB | Jake Clarke-Salter | Chelsea | End of Season |
| 31 August 2016 | CM | Charlie Colkett | Chelsea | 2 January 2017 (Recalled) |
| 18 January 2017 | GK | Joe Lumley | Queens Park Rangers | End of Season |
| 20 January 2017 | CB | Ryan Sweeney | Stoke City | End of Season |
* ↑ On 10 January 2017, Kelle Roos' was recalled back to Derby County.

#### Out

| Date | Position | Player | Transferred to | Fee |
| 30 June 2016 | CF | Rory Fallon | Truro City | Free transfer |
| 30 June 2016 | DF | Tom Parkes | Leyton Orient | Free transfer |
| 30 June 2016 | GK | Kieran Preston | Grantham Town F.C. | Released |
| 31 January 2017 | FW | Matty Taylor | Bristol City | Undisclosed |
* ↑ Following Fallon's release on 12 May 2016, he later agreed to join Truro City on 9 June 2016.
* ↑ Following Preston's release on 12 May 2016, he later agreed to join Grantham Town F.C. on 14 July 2017.

#### Loans out

| Date | Position | Player | Loaned to | End date | Ref. |
| 18 August 2016 | RW | Jake Gosling | Cambridge United | 2 January 2017 | |
| 31 August 2016 | Striker | Jamie Lucas | Boreham Wood | 28 January 2017 | |

## Squad statistics

    Source:
    Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute.
    Players with squad numbers struck through and marked † left the club during the playing season.
    Players with names in italics and marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with Bristol Rovers.
    Players listed with no appearances have been in the matchday squad but only as unused substitutes.
    Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward
| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | | |
| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Name | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Trophy | EFL Trophy | Total | Total | Discipline | Discipline |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Steve Mildenhall | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | ENG | Daniel Leadbitter | 28 (2) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 34 (2) | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Lee Brown | 41 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 48 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | WAL | Tom Lockyer | 46 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 5 † | DF | NIR | Mark McChrystal | 3 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 (1) | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Peter Hartley | 17 (1) | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 24 (1) | 6 | 5 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | ENG | Lee Mansell | 4 (5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 (5) | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Ollie Clarke | 30 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 (2) | 0 | 34 (2) | 4 | 9 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | WAL | Ellis Harrison | 25 (12) | 8 | 1 (1) | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 (1) | 0 | 28 (14) | 9 | 8 | 0 |
| 10 † | FW | ENG | Matty Taylor | 23 (4) | 16 | 2 | 2 | 1 (1) | 0 | 0 (2) | 1 | 26 (7) | 19 | 5 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | GIB | Jake Gosling | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | ENG | Chris Lines | 40 (4) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 (1) | 0 | 44 (5) | 4 | 6 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | ENG | James Clarke | 19 (3) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 23 (3) | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 16 † | MF | IRL | Liam Lawrence | 1 (3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 (3) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | SCO | Bob Harris | 4 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 17 | FW | WAL | Jermaine Easter | 9 (12) | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 2 | 1 | 12 (13) | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| 20 | FW | WAL | Jamie Lucas | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | COL | Cristian Montaño | 12 (13) | 1 | 1 (2) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 15 (16) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | ENG | Byron Moore | 12 (15) | 2 | 1 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 (16) | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | WAL | Billy Bodin | 27 (9) | 13 | 0 (2) | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 29 (13) | 13 | 2 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | ENG | Stuart Sinclair | 37 (1) | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 44 (1) | 1 | 7 | 1 |
| 25 | GK | ENG | Will Puddy | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 7 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | WAL | Ryan Broom | 0 (5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (5) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | FW | ENG | Luke James * | 10 (14) | 0 | 1 (2) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 (16) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 30 | FW | IRL | Rory Gaffney | 22 (12) | 6 | 2 | 3 | 0 (2) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 27 (14) | 9 | 5 | 0 |
| 31 † | DF | WAL | Connor Roberts * | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 31 | GK | ENG | Joe Lumley * | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 33 † | GK | NED | Kelle Roos * | 16 (1) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 22 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 33 | DF | IRL | Ryan Sweeney * | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 34 † | MF | ENG | Hiram Boateng * | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 34 | DF | WAL | Joe Partington | 4 (3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 (3) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 † | MF | ENG | Charlie Colkett * | 8 (7) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 9 (8) | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 36 | DF | ENG | Jake Clarke-Salter * | 9 (3) | 1 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 (4) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 41 | GK | ENG | Kieran Hodges | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Players not included in matchday squads :
| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Name |
| 18 | MF | ENG | Dominic Thomas |
| 19 | DF | ENG | Danny Greenslade |
| 26 † | DF | ENG | Tyler Lyttle |
| 28 | MF | ENG | Jay Malpas |
| 32 | DF | ENG | Alfie Kilgour |

## Competitions

Won  Drawn  Lost  Postponed

### Pre-season friendlies

On 23 November 2015, Rovers first pre-season fixture was announced. As part of a week-long training camp in Spain, Rovers will play CE Sabadell with whom the club have a connection due to both playing in blue and white quartered shirts. Further fixtures were announced once the previous season had concluded, with Rovers due to play Salisbury, Bath City, Mangotsfield United, Weston-super-Mare and Exeter City, all away, and Cheltenham Town, Swansea City and Aston Villa at home.

### League One

On 22 June 2016, the EFL announced the fixtures for the forthcoming season. Rovers started the season away to Scunthorpe United on 6 August, followed by their first home fixture on 14 August against fellow promoted side Oxford United. The traditional Boxing Day fixture sees Rovers host Coventry City while the season will end with Millwall travelling to the Memorial Stadium.

#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 8 | Oxford United | 46 | 20 | 9 | 17 | 65 | 52 | +13 | 69 |
| 9 | Rochdale | 46 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 71 | 62 | +9 | 69 |
| 10 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 68 | 70 | −2 | 66 |
| 11 | Peterborough United | 46 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 62 | 62 | 0 | 62 |
| 12 | Milton Keynes Dons | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 60 | 58 | +2 | 61 |

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 19 April 2017. Source:

#### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| Ground | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H |
| Result | L | W | L | D | D | D | D | W | W | L | W | W | D | W | L | W | L | D | L | L | W | L | W | W | L | W | L | L | W | D | D | D | D | D | D | W | W | L | W | L | W | W | L | W | L | L |
| Position | 21 | 12 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 15 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 10 |

#### Matches
### EFL Cup

On 22 June 2016, the first round draw for the EFL Cup was made. Rovers were drawn at home to Championship side Cardiff City, managed by former Rovers boss Paul Trollope. The game was later picked for live broadcast by Sky Sports. Rovers progressed to the second round thanks to a 115th-minute winner from Chris Lines to set up a trip to Premier League side Chelsea.

### EFL Trophy

On 27 July 2016, the group stage draw for the EFL Trophy was made. Rovers were drawn in Southern Group A along with Reading Academy, Portsmouth and Yeovil Town.
| Pos | Div | Teamvte | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | L2 | Yeovil Town | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 7 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 2 | ACA | Reading U21 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 5 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 3 | L2 | Portsmouth | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 4 | |
| 4 | L1 | Bristol Rovers | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 2 | |